FROM THE MAKERS' MANUALS
A soft cloth and a few habits do most of the work.
Clean the keys the way Yamaha, Roland, Kawai and Casio describe, keep dust, sun and heat away, move the piano level, and check for firmware updates.
Damp, not wetThe cloth
No alcoholAll four makers
No tuningEver needed
This guide shows how to clean piano keys on a digital piano the way the makers themselves describe it, then covers the rest of digital piano maintenance: the cabinet and pedals, dust, where the piano stands, power and cables, moving it, firmware and screws. Everything here comes from Yamaha's, Roland's, Kawai's and Casio's own manuals and support pages, listed at the end. The good news first: a digital piano never needs tuning, and most of its care is a soft cloth and a few habits.
Quick answer
To clean piano keys, switch the piano off, wipe a few keys at a time with a soft cloth dampened with lukewarm water and wrung out so it doesn't drip, and dry them straight away with a second, dry cloth. For grime, add a little mild dishwashing liquid, then wipe again with water only. Never use alcohol, thinners, solvents, bleach or chemical wipes: the makers warn they can discolor or crack the keys.
Yamaha, Roland, Kawai and Casio describe the same method for the keys of a digital piano, and it takes a few minutes. Every one of them asks for a soft cloth that is dry or only slightly damp, and for nothing that drips into the gaps between the keys.
Four steps, in this order
Yamaha's manuals say to remove the power plug before cleaning, because of the risk of electric shock, and Kawai says to power the piano off. Yamaha's own method uses three clean microfiber cloths, each wrung out so that no water drips on the keys: wipe several keys at a time, moving from the far end of the keys toward you, then dry them. Kawai adds the rule that matters most on a digital piano: never let moisture drip into the gaps between the keys.
What’s on your keys?
Dust and fingerprints. A soft, dry cloth, or one dampened with water and wrung out, is all the keys need. Casio warns against using a tissue, which can scratch.
Greasy marks. Yamaha dampens the first cloth with lukewarm water and a small amount of dishwashing liquid, the second with water only, and keeps the third dry. Kawai and Casio also allow a cloth with a little mild soap or neutral detergent and water, followed by a dry one.
Stubborn dirt. Roland suggests a special keyboard cleaner with no abrasive ingredients, such as the key cleaner in its own care kits. Start gently, and press harder only if the dirt doesn't move.
Ink and stickers. Roland says ink seeps into the fine lines of the key surface and can't be removed, so never write on the keys, and don't stick note labels on them.
Clean hands keep the keys clean for longer. Yamaha and Kawai both recommend washing your hands before you play, and if you use hand sanitizer, letting your hands dry completely before you touch the keys.
The makers' warnings line up too. Between them, Yamaha, Roland, Kawai and Casio rule out alcohol, paint thinner, benzine, solvents, chlorine bleach and chemical-impregnated cloths or sanitizing wipes, and Yamaha adds cleaners with peroxide or salts. Their reasons: these can discolor, deform or crack the keys and the finish. Yamaha's manuals also rule out cleaning fluids in general, and Casio cleaning agents, which covers glass and household cleaners.
Safe on your keys?
If you want to disinfect the keys, Roland and Casio allow a non-alcohol disinfecting wipe, followed by a soft, dry cloth; Casio says to wipe two or three times. Kawai's advice is to clean your hands instead: wash them and disinfect your fingers before and after playing, and make sure they're completely dry before you start. Yamaha notes that its cleaning method doesn't guarantee disinfection, and that many popular disinfectants can damage key surfaces over time.
Beyond the keys, digital piano maintenance comes down to a handful of habits, and none of them needs tools or a technician. Unlike an acoustic piano, a digital piano never needs tuning: Yamaha and Kawai both say so in their manuals.
1
Treat the cabinet like the keys: a soft cloth, dry or wrung out, and a light touch. Roland warns that rubbing hard can leave small scratches. For heavier dirt, Casio suggests a cloth moistened with a weak solution of water and mild neutral detergent, wrung out, then a dry cloth. On wood-grain finishes, Roland's manuals say to wipe along the grain.
Glossy finishes need the most care. Roland says even small grains of dust can leave abrasions when you wipe hard, so dust lightly with a soft cloth or a feather brush made for pianos. When the shine fades, use a finish cleaner made for piano finishes on a soft cloth, never detergents or cleansers, which Roland says can deform the coating. Yamaha also warns that knocks from metal, porcelain or other hard objects can crack or peel a polished finish.
The panel and pedals. Casio says to wipe dust off the control panel before you use it, because pressing buttons through grit can scratch it. For pedals, the makers differ: Roland suggests a metal polisher for oxidation or dark stains, while Kawai rules out rust removers, abrasives and files, and cleans its gold-plated pedals with a dry dish-washing sponge, because a cloth can make them look dull. Follow your own piano's manual.
Keep things off the top. Yamaha and Roland warn that vinyl, plastic or rubber objects left on the piano can discolor it, and Yamaha says never to put a vase, bottle or glass of liquid on it.
2
Dust settles between the keys, on the panel and on the speaker grilles. Yamaha's advice is to keep the key cover closed whenever you're not playing. Most portable pianos have no key cover, and for those Kawai recommends a dust cover: not strictly necessary, it says, but a way to keep dust and debris off when the piano isn't in use.
Yamaha and Roland both warn that vinyl or rubber left on the piano can discolor it, so we'd choose a cloth cover. Make sure it doesn't drape over the power adaptor: Casio says not to cover the adaptor with fabric. Our piano accessories guide lists dust covers alongside stands, benches and pedals.
Recommended accessory
The simplest piece of maintenance for a piano without a key cover: on when you finish playing, off when you sit down. Choose cloth over vinyl, in a size that matches your piano's width.
Check price on Amazon for the A Cloth Dust Cover (opens in a new tab)3
A digital piano has no strings or soundboard, so the room can't put it out of tune, but heat, damp and sudden changes can still damage it. All four makers list the same places to avoid: direct sunlight, spots near a heater or radiator, damp or very humid rooms, dusty or sandy places, and anywhere the temperature and humidity swing a lot. Yamaha adds a car during the day. Their reasons range from a deformed or discolored case to damaged internal parts and, in Casio's words, mold, rust and warping.
Temperatures the makers name
Only Casio gives a humidity figure for a digital piano: 40 to 60% relative humidity, at 15 to 25°C, for its AP-S200, to prevent mold. Yamaha lists a verified operating range of 5 to 40°C (41 to 104°F) for its current pianos: the temperatures it has confirmed the piano works in, not an ideal room. Yamaha's, Roland's and Kawai's digital piano manuals give no humidity figure; the humidity targets on the makers' piano care pages are written for acoustic pianos.
Where does your piano live?
Living room. Away from the window and the radiator, with space around it, a living room suits a digital piano. Kawai asks for at least 5 cm of space around the piano for ventilation, and Yamaha suggests about 5 cm from the wall for better sound.
Basement. Damp rooms are on every maker's list to avoid. Casio says to set the piano up in a well-ventilated place within its recommended range, to prevent mold, so in a damp basement a dehumidifier helps keep the room in range.
Near a radiator. Yamaha, Roland, Kawai and Casio all say to keep the piano away from heaters, radiators and heating vents. Yamaha warns of disfiguration, damage to internal components and unstable operation.
By a window. Direct sunlight is on all four makers' lists, and Kawai names spots near a window. Roland adds piano lamps and spotlights: shining on one area for a long time, their heat can deform or discolor the case. Our piano lamp guide covers LED lamps for each kind of piano.
On a heated floor. Roland says its pianos can stand on a heated floor if the surface stays between 25 and 30°C, and advises against it above 40°C.
"Most digital piano care is prevention: a soft cloth, a cover, a sensible spot in the room, and a plug pulled before a storm."
4
A few habits on the power side prevent the faults cleaning can't fix. Yamaha, Roland and Kawai all say to unplug the piano during lightning storms and when it won't be used for a long time. Yamaha and Kawai point out that the power switch doesn't fully disconnect it: a little electricity still flows in standby.
Use the supplied adaptor. Yamaha says to use only the supplied or specified adaptor, and Kawai never to use an aftermarket one unless Kawai has confirmed it's compatible. Casio notes that its adaptor can't be repaired.
Skip the power strip. Yamaha's manuals say not to connect the piano through a multi-plug outlet extender, and Roland's not to share an outlet with an appliance controlled by an inverter or a motor.
Wipe the plug. Yamaha, Roland and Kawai ask you to check the power plug now and then and wipe off any dust that has built up on it.
Pull the plug, not the cord. Yamaha and Roland say to hold the plug or connector itself, never the cable, and Casio not to twist the cord at the plug or wind it around the adaptor. Yamaha adds: turn the power off before connecting other gear.
5
Digital pianos are far easier to move than acoustic ones, but the makers set the same rules for all of them: remove every cable first, keep the piano level, and never lift a cabinet model alone. After repositioning the instrument, reset a stable playing height rather than adapting your posture around the new setup; our adjustable piano bench guide explains the fit checks.
What are you moving?
Cabinet pianos (such as Yamaha's Arius and Kawai's KDP models): always move them with two or more people, holding the bottom of the main unit and keeping it horizontal. Yamaha says not to hold the key cover or the top, and not to lean the piano against a wall or stand it on its side. After a move, check that every screw is still tight.
Portable pianos: unplug the adaptor and the cables first, and for anything beyond a room-to-room move, use a padded case or a fitted cover, as Kawai suggests. Roland's advice is to use the original box and padding when you can.
One more rule after a move: if the piano comes from a place much colder or more humid than the room, condensation can form inside it. Roland says to let it stand for several hours, until the condensation has completely evaporated, before you use it.
6
Many current digital pianos take firmware updates from their maker, with bug fixes and occasional improvements. Yamaha's manuals ask owners to check its website for the latest release, and Kawai says to update when new versions come out, for the best performance and compatibility with its PianoRemote app. Two recent examples: Roland's version 1.03 for the FP-30X (November 2024) changed the default Auto Off time to 20 minutes, and Kawai's version 1.05 for the CA501 (July 2025) improved the speaker EQ.
Checking and updating firmware
The steps differ by model, so follow the maker's instructions for yours. The USB stick usually needs a particular format: Kawai's CA501 update needs FAT or FAT32, not exFAT, and Roland asks for a stick formatted on the FP-30X itself. Both updates take a minute or two, and Roland warns never to switch the piano off while one runs, because a failed update needs servicing. Kawai says its update shouldn't affect your saved settings, but recommends saving them first.
Apps such as Yamaha's Smart Pianist and Kawai's PianoRemote update through your phone's app store.
7
Cabinet pianos and their stands are held together with screws, and Roland notes that screws in wooden furniture loosen gradually over time. Its rule of thumb is to check them a month after you buy the piano and every six months after that. Kawai and Yamaha also ask owners to check the screws regularly and tighten them if needed, including the bench's if one came with the piano, Kawai adds.
8
Cleaning fixes what's on the surface. Anything inside the piano is a job for the maker's authorized service: dead keys, keys that play at the wrong volume, crackling or silent speakers, a blank display, or any electrical fault.
Check the simple causes first. Yamaha's troubleshooting notes that a pedal that doesn't work may just have a loose plug: turn the piano off and push the pedal plug firmly in. Then check the warranty before anyone opens the piano, because the warranty card that came with it sets the terms.
Home fix or technician?
Repairs depend on the maker's parts and service. Kawai says its spare parts aren't available to the general public, so a repair goes through authorized service rather than a do-it-yourself fix.
No maker publishes an expected lifespan for a digital piano, so be wary of confident numbers. What the makers do publish points to the practical limits: the parts that see daily use, how long spare parts stay available, and the warranty.
Check yourself
Does a digital piano ever need tuning?
Right. Yamaha and Kawai both say their digital pianos never need tuning. Acoustic pianos do.
Not quite. Yamaha and Kawai both say their digital pianos never need tuning. Acoustic pianos do.
The parts that move. The keys, their contacts and the pedals are the parts that see daily use, so they're the ones care protects most: clean keys, a dust cover and a stable room.
Spare parts. A repair depends on parts. Roland Japan says it keeps performance parts for 6 to 8 years after a model stops being made, with the exact period printed on each warranty card; that statement covers Japan. Kawai warns that parts and firmware support may be limited for older, discontinued models.
Warranty. Kawai's US warranty runs 3 years, parts and labor, on its ES and KDP models and 5 years on its CN and CA models. Other makers' terms are on the warranty card that came with the piano.
No tuning, ever. Yamaha and Kawai both state that their digital pianos never need tuning, which removes an acoustic piano's main recurring job.
Signs it's time to replace: keys that stay sticky or dead after service, velocity problems that affect your playing, crackling speakers that don't respond to the volume control, structural damage to the cabinet, or simply outgrowing the piano's features (a beginner piano you've outgrown for intermediate work is "time to replace" even if it still works perfectly).
Watch out
Never use household cleaners on piano keys. Yamaha, Roland, Kawai and Casio all rule out alcohol, solvents, chlorine and chemical wipes, and say they can discolor, deform or crack the keys and the finish. A soft cloth, water, and a little mild soap when needed are all the makers ask for.
Tip
Keep the original box and padding if you have the space. Roland advises transporting a piano in the box it came in, with its padding, whenever possible, which matters most if it ever has to go back for repair.
The whole routine on one list:
A few minutes a week covers the routine, and the rest comes up a few times a year. For most owners, the piano outgrows them (skill-wise) before the maintenance becomes a concern.
Need accessories or a new piano?
Lesson complete
Your piano is covered.
A soft microfiber cloth dampened with lukewarm water and wrung out until it doesn't drip, followed by a dry cloth. For greasy marks, Yamaha adds a small amount of dishwashing liquid to the first cloth, then wipes again with a cloth dampened with water only. Every maker rules out alcohol, solvents, bleach and chemical wipes.
Not wipes with alcohol or chlorine: Yamaha, Roland, Kawai and Casio all rule both out, and Yamaha and Casio warn against chemical or sanitizing wipes in general. To disinfect, Roland and Casio allow a non-alcohol disinfecting wipe followed by a soft, dry cloth. Read the label first, and never let liquid run between the keys.
Dust the keys and cabinet with a soft, dry cloth about once a week, and clean the keys with a damp, wrung-out cloth whenever they look grubby. Keep the key cover closed or a dust cover on between sessions, and you'll need the damp cloth less often. Wipe the power plug and check for firmware every few months.
It never needs tuning: Yamaha and Kawai both say so in their manuals. Routine care is cleaning, a dust cover, a sensible spot in the room and, on cabinet models, checking the screws now and then. Servicing is only for faults such as dead keys, sensor problems, crackling speakers or anything electrical, done by the maker's authorized service.
Yes, at the extremes, although it can't put the piano out of tune. The makers list damp, very humid or very dry rooms, and big swings in temperature or humidity, among the places to avoid, warning of mold, rust, warping and damaged parts. Casio recommends 40 to 60% relative humidity at 15 to 25°C for its AP-S200.
Only from the outside. With the piano switched off, clean around the key with a wrung-out cloth, keeping moisture out of the gaps, and dry it. If it still sticks, don't open the piano: that's a job for the maker's authorized service, and Kawai, for one, doesn't sell spare parts to the public. Check your warranty first.
